It is understood the bombers deviated from their usual flight path, alerting the British, and the quick reaction alert (QRA) jets were dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, and RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire.

The fighters flew close to the Russian planes – roughly 1,000ft away – and were able to signal to the pilots.

A defence ministry spokesman said: ‘Typhoons were launched after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace.

‘The Russian planes were escorted until they were out of the UK area of interest. At no time did they cross into UK airspace.’